Estero Fire Rescue Improves Fire Protection Rating

Estero Fire Rescue is working to keep the cost of insurance for fire protection under control. Recently, the department was awarded a Public Protection Classification (PPC) of 3 in developed areas of Estero.

One measurement of the capacity of a fire service to protect the community is its Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating. This rating is used to set the fire protection portion of a resident’s homeowner insurance. Under ISO’s rating system, protection class “1” is the best and “10” is the worst rating. The lower the rating, the less the cost for fire insurance for a home or business.

The Class 3 ranking places Estero Fire Rescue in the top 5% in the country for fire protection in developed areas.

How Ratings Work

An analysis of Estero Fire Rescue by the national data collection agency, ISO, focused on three areas to provide information on the quality of fire protection. These three areas include:

The fire department, including equipment, apparatus, staffing, training, and geographic locations of fire stations (this accounts for 50% of the score)

The water supply system, including the condition and maintenance of hydrants, and a careful evaluation of the amount of available water compared with the amount needed to suppress fires (this accounts for 40% of the score)

ISO staff collects information about the quality of public fire protection in approximately 46,000 fire districts across the United States. The Class 3 ranking places Estero Fire Rescue in the top 5% in the country for fire protection in developed areas.

If your insurance company needs proof of the improved rating, you can print and send this thisLetter Confirming ISO

Rural Areas Rated Separately

Rural areas of the district received a split rating of 8B. Class 8B is a Public Protection Classification for communities that provide superior fire-protection services and fire-alarm facilities but lack the water supply required for a PPC of Class 8 or better.

To compensate for limited water supplies, Estero Fire Rescue made improvements in firefighting equipment that include the addition of a new 3,000 gallon Kenworth tanker. The tanker is a vital piece of equipment for firefighters and a great addition to the arsenal for Estero Fire Rescue. This is most notable in areas where there are limited water resources. This Kenworth tanker will carries a 600 gallon per minute pump and a folding tank that will allow the vehicle to offload its water supply into a holding tank while it goes to refill. This holding tank can then be used by engines to draw water for fire suppression.

For more information on our ISO rating,see our document ‘Extended Attack’. There you will find a complete history of Estero Fire Rescue’s ISO rating throughout the years and how improvements have been made. You may also contact Susan Lindenmuth, Public Relations Manager, at 239-390-8000.